There is immense pressure resting on the shoulders of The Mandalorian and Grogu; the film is tasked with revitalizing a franchise that has struggled to regain its momentum. Since the polarizing conclusion of the Skywalker saga in 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker, the Star Wars universe has largely been confined to the small screen via Disney Plus. Now, the series looks to make a grand theatrical return as Jon Favreau adapts his acclaimed show into a feature-length cinematic event.
In anticipation of the May 22 premiere, Disney invited a select group of press to the IMAX headquarters in Los Angeles for a sneak peek at the film’s opening 15 minutes. Being among the first outsiders to witness this footage was a privilege, but my immediate takeaway is sobering: rather than feeling like a sweeping, definitive blockbuster, the sequence resonates more like an extended episode of a streaming series or a high-end video game cutscene. It lacks the distinct grandiosity one expects from a cinematic return to the galaxy far, far away.
[Editor’s note: The following contains spoilers for the opening 15 minutes of The Mandalorian and Grogu.]The film eschews the traditional opening crawl, opting instead for minimal exposition to orient viewers who may not be fully versed in the Disney Plus series—though make no mistake, those unfamiliar with the show will likely find themselves lost. The story picks up in the era following Return of the Jedi, with the New Republic scrambling to assert order amidst the remnants of the fallen Empire, while our protagonists continue their crusade against surviving Imperial cells.
We open in an Imperial stronghold where a local crime boss is squeezing syndicates for more protection money. “Things were better under the Empire,” he muses, leading his reluctant audience in a desperate, mandatory cheer for the fallen regime. When a dissenter points out that regional instability and piracy make such high fees untenable, the boss shuts him down with lethal force—right before Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) makes his inevitable, explosive entrance.
The ensuing skirmish is pure spectacle: Djarin unleashes his trademark flamethrower before chasing his target into the snowy wilderness, where Grogu awaits. The sequence that follows—featuring Mando commandeering an AT-ST with Grogu in tow—feels jarringly mechanical. As the camera pans to reveal a phalanx of AT-ATs, the framing feels unnervingly like a scripted video game objective, complete with clearly signposted traversal paths. It is all impressively rendered, but the directorial choices lack the cinematic flair that elevates Star Wars into mythic territory.
After a frantic chase involving escape pods and a jetpack rescue by Zeb (voiced by Steve Blum), the tone shifts to a familiar cantina on Adelphi. Here, we are introduced to a New Republic official, played by Sigourney Weaver, who chastises Mando for his “messy” approach. The dialogue here is functional, relying on exposition-heavy beats about tracking down a mysterious Imperial commander—a plot thread involving a deck of Sabacc cards that feels ripped directly from a quest-based RPG.
While the performances are professional, the framing of these conversations is surprisingly intimate and small-scale, utilizing a flat, portrait-style aesthetic reminiscent of a Zoom call rather than a wide-angle cinematic conversation. To see this in a $200 million feature film is, frankly, disheartening.
As the preview concluded with a rapid-fire montage of giant creatures and swamp-laden landscapes, I found myself conflicted. While it is evident that a massive amount of technical craftsmanship has gone into this production, the heart and scale that defined the original Star Wars spirit remain elusive. The opening of a Star Wars movie is a foundational moment; it should grab the audience by the throat. Instead, this felt clinical and strangely hollow.
I genuinely hope the remainder of the film expands into something more soulful and epic. But based on this first glimpse, I fear the franchise is mistaking “more content” for “a movie experience.” The Mandalorian and Grogu faces an uphill battle to convince fans that it deserves a place alongside the series’ greatest hits—and as of now, I remain unconvinced.
The Mandalorian and Grogu hits theaters on May 22.
Disclosure: This article is based on a press event held in Los Angeles. Disney provided travel accommodations for the event. You can review our editorial ethics policy here.
Source: Polygon
